Students and University leaders met for an hour of conversation at NEOMED’s third biannual Town Hall, held Tuesday, April 16, in Watanakunakorn Auditorium.
Geetika Srivastava, a second-year College of Medicine student; Kassandra Kersey, a second-year College of Pharmacy student; and Poojajeet Khaira, a first-year College of Medicine student, served as the gathering’s student moderators.
Panelists in attendance to answer students’ questions were Elisabeth Young, M.D. (’85), vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine; Richard Kasmer, Pharm.D., J.D., vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Pharmacy; Steven Schmidt, Ph.D., vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies; Andre Burton, J.D., vice president for human resources and diversity; Michelle Mulhern, M.P.A., chief of staff and secretary for the Board of Trustees; and John Wray, J.D., vice president for administration and finance.
What’s on students’ minds?
A number of students noted that they found value in the panelists’ direct answers and how current issues and topics are being handled.
One attendee shared on an evaluation card, “Dr. Young was excellent in responding to student queries.”
Here’s a sample of the questions asked, and a link to watch the full presentation.
- Does the College of Medicine have any plans to expand its roster of clinical sites?
- In regards to diversity, what came back from the LCME site visit? What will be done to increase diversity among students, staff and faculty?
- How is NEOMED helping College of Medicine students away at clinical sites with the burden of housing and travel?
- There are a lot of conferences held during the week. How can students manage to attend, present and network at them, with their class schedules?
- How are students’ voices being heard in the selection process for the new president of NEOMED?
- Do faculty members notice students’ burnout in mid-March? Can burnout information be incorporated into lectures?
- Is it possible for third-year College of Medicine students to get their schedules for specific rotations ahead of time?
- With the closing of the soccer field/recreation space due to construction, are there any plans to provide a new sports field?
- First-year College of Medicine students seem to have very clustered weeks, will this be corrected?
- Other medical schools incorporate “mental health time” into their curriculum. Is anything like that being considered at NEOMED?
What’s next?
Students were invited to fill out cards asking additional questions – and they did! Keep an eye on The Pulse, where we’ll publish responses.
The next student Town Hall will be held in Fall 2019.